Elementary Education K–6

Subtest 3 – Science

Test Format and Sample Questions

The Science subtest contains approximately 45 multiple-choice items. You will have 70 minutes to complete the subtest.

Each of the questions will contain four response options. You will choose the best response out of the available options, and indicate A, B, C, or D.

The table below presents types of questions on the exam and directs you to examples of these formats among the sample items that follow.

Table of Question Formats

Type of Question	Sample Question
Scenario Examine a classroom situation or a student composition. Then select the response option that best answers a question, recommends a course of action, or gives the appropriate evaluation or teacher comment.	Question 1
Direct Question Choose the response option that best answers the question.	Question 2
Sentence Completion Select the response option that best completes the sentence.	Question 43

Sample Questions

The following questions represent both the form and content of questions on the examination. These questions will acquaint you with the general format of the examination; however, these sample questions do not cover all of the competencies and skills that are tested and will only approximate the degree of examination difficulty.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

During the discovery and application process students are making discoveries. Which of the following should the teacher be doing?

Choose an answer

1. doing a demonstration as instruction
2. coaching and guiding children as needed
3. presenting situations and posing questions
4. maintaining order throughout the classroom

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which scientific device would be most appropriate to use to map the ocean floor?

Choose an answer

1. sonar
2. ground penetrating radar
3. seismometer
4. microwave generator

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following tools would be most appropriate to use for demonstrating to students that sound moves at different speeds through different media?

Choose an answer

1. oscilloscope
2. tuning fork
3. micrometer
4. pendulum

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

When beginning a unit of study, a teacher has the children write or talk about what they already know or believe about that topic. For example, if the teacher is starting a unit on space, the teacher gives children a chance to write or talk about whether the terms solar system and universe are the same or different. This is an example of which of the following theories?

Choose an answer

1. cognitivist
2. constructivism
3. human perspective
4. social learning perspective

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following instructional strategies would be the most useful for helping the science teacher to identify students' misconceptions?

Choose an answer

1. increasing wait time
2. involving students in lab activities
3. engaging students in a think-pair-share activity
4. having students complete a science worksheet

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

After a Life Science unit studying the life cycle of a butterfly and reading the Very Hungry Caterpillar, the kindergarten teacher has students illustrate and label the stages of the life cycle of a butterfly. Which of the following mathematical concepts does this activity most likely represent?

Choose an answer

1. number sets
2. recognizing patterns
3. number sense and counting
4. sequencing and ordinal position

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A kindergarten teacher has students with disabilities in his classroom daily during his science lesson and lab. Which of the following is the most appropriate inquiry approach to provide to ensure all students experience success?

Choose an answer

1. hands-on learning
2. explicit instruction
3. one-to-one instruction
4. whole-group learning

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An elementary school teacher is planning a science unit that involves the study of normal animal functions. For several of the lessons, the teacher plans to use live animals in the classroom. Which of the following is the most appropriate first step for the teacher?

Choose an answer

1. seeking the approval of the school principal to bring live animals to the classroom
2. seeking the approval of the students' parents to use live animals in the classroom
3. determining housing and other equipment needs appropriate for that species
4. determining appropriate care of the living creature after completing the study

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

What advantage can a computer drill program have over textbook practice activities?

Choose an answer

1. providing a wider variety of problems
2. identifying and reinforcing weak areas
3. generating more difficult problems
4. conducting timed tests

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 1—Knowledge of effective science instruction

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following types of computer software would be most useful for helping students understand how hurricanes form?

Choose an answer

1. spreadsheet
2. animation
3. simulation
4. database

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 2—Knowledge of the nature of science

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

When examining the color and clarity of 20 milliliters of a liquid, which of the following would be the most appropriate substitute for a test tube?

Choose an answer

1. beaker
2. eyedropper
3. graduated cylinder
4. drinking glass

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A pendulum bob swings back and forth. When does the bob have its greatest potential energy?

Choose an answer

1. when the bob starts to move downward
2. when the bob starts to move upward
3. when the bob is at the top of the arc
4. when the bob is at the bottom of the arc

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Chemical reactions involve

Choose an answer

1. both the release and the absorption of energy.
2. only the release of energy.
3. only the absorption of energy.
4. neither the release nor the absorption of energy.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is an example of a change in the chemical properties of a substance?

Choose an answer

1. making copper wire from a bar of copper
2. tarnishing of copper
3. dissolving sugar in water
4. distilling salt water

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is an example of a physical change of matter?

Choose an answer

1. heating a piece of iron until it glows red
2. placing a steel wool pad in water until it rusts
3. mixing baking soda with vinegar to create bubbles
4. adding lemon juice to milk to make the milk curdle

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

A beaker containing 200 mL of water is placed under constant heat. The temperature rises steadily at the rate of 10 degrees per minute until reaching 100 degrees Celsius and stays at this temperature for five minutes. Why did the temperature of the water stay constant?

Choose an answer

1. The air surrounding the beaker has absorbed the additional energy.
2. The water was absorbing the additional energy needed to turn to steam.
3. The water molecules were absorbing the additional energy because they are farther apart.
4. The water nearer to the energy source is much hotter, but is kept in the beaker by the mass of the water on top of it.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The smallest unit of an element that displays the characteristic properties of that element is the

Choose an answer

1. proton.
2. nucleus.
3. molecule.
4. atom.

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is an example of kinetic energy?

Choose an answer

1. water at the top of a beaker
2. a beaker of water in sunlight
3. a beaker of water in darkness
4. water being poured out of a beaker

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following examples best illustrates the change from kinetic to potential energy?

Choose an answer

1. a bowling ball knocking over pins
2. a child stretching a rubber band
3. a diver jumping into a swimming pool
4. a train speeding down a hill

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The change of frequency of a vibrating string results in a change of

Choose an answer

1. loudness.
2. tone.
3. pitch.
4. harmonies.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

An apparent change in wave frequency due to relative motion of the source or the observer is called

Choose an answer

1. acoustics.
2. refraction.
3. the Doppler effect.
4. electromagnetic interference.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following types of energy is stored in fossil fuels?

Choose an answer

1. chemical
2. electrical
3. geological
4. mechanical

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which portion of the electromagnetic spectrum is invisible to the human eye and has the longest wavelength?

Choose an answer

1. infrared
2. yellow
3. ultraviolet
4. violet

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The measurement used for determining the warmth or coolness of a body is called

Choose an answer

1. thermal energy.
2. humidity.
3. temperature.
4. kinetic energy.

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Several bulbs are lit in an electric circuit. One bulb is removed and all the bulbs go out. What type of circuit is this?

Choose an answer

1. complete
2. parallel
3. series
4. short

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

How many different kinds of electrical charges are there in static electricity?

Choose an answer

1. 1
2. 2
3. 3
4. 4

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 3—Knowledge of physical sciences

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The origin of all magnetic fields is in

Choose an answer

1. atoms of iron.
2. stationary electric charges.
3. permanent magnets.
4. moving electric charges.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is the most important rationale for the scientific study of Mars?

Choose an answer

1. investigating the existence of intelligent life forms
2. understanding the evolution of the solar system
3. gaining access to valuable minerals
4. establishing a human colony

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The discovery of giant boulders that are different from the bedrock on which they rest has been used to demonstrate the presence of which type of geological action?

Choose an answer

1. river formation
2. glaciers
3. weathering
4. folding

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The upwelling of molten rock from within Earth is most directly associated with the

Choose an answer

1. collision of continents.
2. creation of subduction zones.
3. formation of ocean trenches.
4. separation of crustal plates.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following is a type of igneous rock?

Choose an answer

1. granite
2. marble
3. limestone
4. sandstone

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Without the atmosphere, the surface of the Earth would be

Choose an answer

1. warmer.
2. colder.
3. darker.
4. lighter.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which method of heat travel only takes place in gases and liquids?

Choose an answer

1. radiation
2. absorption
3. convection
4. conduction

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following most clearly illustrates the transfer of energy through radiation?

Choose an answer

1. creation of surface currents
2. creation of high-pressure systems
3. heating of Earth's surface
4. heating of air above Earth

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The underground region in which all the pores are filled with water is called the

Choose an answer

1. zone of saturation.
2. aquifer.
3. watershed.
4. zone of aeration.

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

High, feathery clouds made of ice crystals are called

Choose an answer

1. stratus.
2. cumulus.
3. cirrus.
4. nimbus.

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Thundershowers usually accompany the arrival of what kind of front?

Choose an answer

1. cold
2. occluded
3. stationary
4. warm

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Based on the following diagram of Earth, people in the Northern Hemisphere are experiencing which of the following seasons?

The diagram shows Earth with sunlight coming from the right. The left half of Earth is in shadow, and the right half is in sunlight. North and South America are visible. The equator is shown higher at the left and lower at the right. A meridian line is shown from north to south, with the north end toward the right and the south end toward the left.

Choose an answer

1. spring
2. summer
3. fall
4. winter

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: B.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

How do inner and outer planets in our solar system differ?

Choose an answer

1. Inner planets have an atmosphere, whereas outer planets do not.
2. Outer planets have an atmosphere, whereas inner planets do not.
3. Outer planets are large and rocky, whereas inner planets are small and gaseous.
4. Inner planets are small and rocky, whereas outer planets are large and gaseous.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The Russian space program has made significant contributions to space exploration including

Choose an answer

1. putting the first woman in space.
2. determining the actual distance to the moon.
3. being the only country to conduct spacewalks.
4. exclusively funding the international space station.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 4—Knowledge of Earth and space

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The Hubble telescope has exhibited great clarity. This is a result of the

Choose an answer

1. mirror configuration of the Hubble.
2. digital imagery found only in the Hubble.
3. Hubble's placement outside of the Earth's atmosphere.
4. Hubble's huge size compared to earthbound telescopes.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 5—Knowledge of life science

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which of the following structures is present in plant cells but not in animal cells?

Choose an answer

1. chloroplast
2. mitochondrion
3. cytoplasm
4. nucleus

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 5—Knowledge of life science

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

The mechanism that Darwin saw as the means for evolution to occur was

Choose an answer

1. under production of offspring.
2. over production of offspring.
3. artificial selection.
4. natural selection.

Answer Enter to expand or collapse answer. Answer expanded

Correct Response: D.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 5—Knowledge of life science

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Proteins are broken down by the body to provide

Choose an answer

1. amino acids.
2. sugars and starches.
3. lipids and fatty acids.
4. nucleic acids.

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: A.

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Subtest 3 - Science

Competency 5—Knowledge of life science

DIRECTIONS: Read the question and select the best response.

Which system has the primary responsibility for regulating body temperature?

Choose an answer

1. muscular system
2. lymphatic system
3. nervous system
4. respiratory system

AnswerEnter to expand or collapse answer.Answer expanded

Correct Response: C.

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